Vernon Barnes

I updated a couple of days ago and the GIU is much better now. I have not used the synth much since buying it last year when it was on sale. I am sure the old GIU was a factor. (Along with getting into Pigments absorbing my sound creation time.) I look forward to going through you video and getting some pointers.

Installed (via Sonic pass subscription). I only had a brief look but it seems to be pretty versatile.

For anyone interested in control mapping and patch preview for NIs Komplete Kontrol watch this developer. MiniMonsta2 is not not included yet but given their rate of development it probably will be soon. https://freelancesoundlabs.com/index.php/downloads/komplete-kontrol-vst-packs/itemlist/category/118-gforce

You are correct, The VSTs I had made maps for, like IKs Hammond, have the assigned CC with in the VST. Unfortunately this does not appear to be the case with GForce. Just to the right of the window displaying the patch name there is a button labelled CC. With this enabled do the MIDI learn. The assigned CCs for each knob then persist when the application is restarted or the patch is changed. With this done a template could be made, but for basic purposes it may not be necessary.

You should be able to create a user template in Arturia's MIDI control centre software and recall it as required. I have not done it for Minimonsta 2 but I have for other virtual instruments.

I have more Mini Moog emulations than I can shake a stick at but Minimonsta has long been my favourite so I had to bite on this one and upgrade Boy, is their website slow at the moment, not helped by a forgotten login and the need to reset the password it was over half an hour to complete the purchase.

Cakewalk and Studio One not supported, anyone had issues?

My DAW has been on Win 11 more or less since it came out. I have not had any issues with it. My utility PC is still on Win 10 as the hardware is incompatible with 11, now I have got used to the changes I think I now prefer 11 but its marginal.

I think I will look into this, I hope it will be useful sketching out vocal parts as guide for a singer. One singer I work with just needs a lead sheet to pretty much nail the vocal but the other needs a lot more guidance.

I think EastWest's Hollywood Orchestrator is the ultimate for Ostinatos but that said I just added Chapter II to my 8Dio ostinatos as they have a different tone and character.

There does not seem to much in the way of male vocals of this type.

Look at Realivox "The Ladies" https://realitone.com/products/realivox-ladies Or "Blue," https://realitone.com/products/realivoxblue There is also EastWest Hollywood Backup Singers.

I am surprised this has not prompted more interest and discussion. I am trying the demo and it is very good, probably better than any other virtual Rhodes I have. I do still have a very soft spot for OTS's Famous E but I think the instruments would be complimentary, the Famous E has a character all of its own. It won't be cheap $180 for the standard and $250 for the pro version, so I will have to consider if its THAT much better than my other option.

Installed, courtesy of Sonic Pass, I have not had a look yet.

King Crimson

I much prefer the Hogarth era stuff.

When David Longdon replaced Sean Filkins as lead singer in Big Big Train the band took big a leap forward. and were starting to reach a wider audience when David sadly died. Hopefully Alberto Bravin will continue to move them forward.

Also updates for 8-Bit Synth, ICRAM Prepared Piano and Toy Suite

And Thompson again. From "Bone Through Her Nose". "Oh, she gets her suits from a personal friend, Coco the clown She got dustman's jacket, inside out, it's a party gown"

"And if you never liked pulling teeth Then why? Why did you tie me in the dentist's chair?" From Richard Thompson's "Missie How You Let Me Down" And another contender, the opening lines of the same song. " Hailstones and a sickle moon and the north wind races."

Thanks for the kind comments. I think the influences are mostly from the more melodic side of contemporary prog. Two bands that influenced this one the most were Luna Rossa and Big Big Train BBT were the impetuous to attempt a brass arrangement using orchestral and brass band instruments rather than pop/rock brass.

It's a good plugin. I had one tricky track and tried several de-essers with varying success but Siblance sorted it out quickly and easily. Certainly a no brainer for free.

I found this interesting! I love the Waves plugin so I really appreciated the background and history.

Installed (I am on the Sonic Pass subscription) To be clear this is a straightforward UVI workstation library rather than a guitar processor. That said, from an initial run through some pre-sets and tweaking a few controls it sounds reasonably unique and quite good too. I think I will need to reference the manual (is there one?) to get my head around a couple of things in GUI but that's a job for another day.

I would class the VM900 collection as almost a no brainer at $40. The sounds are fantastic, by far the best modules for VM (imho).